Early market-mover Cowper Hall landed the place money in third in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Down Royal as 2/1 favourite St Denis's Well got it done from the front in the hands of James Smith. Albatala gave the Ian Donoghue-trained victor most to do but she ultimately had to yield by two lengths as they left the aforementioned Cowper Hall nine lengths back in the bronze medal position.

"I was a bit worried when I saw all the money coming for Liam Lennon's horse (Cowper Hall), and I said to James that there's blinkers on (replacing cheekpieces) and go out and gallop them into the ground and that is what he did," said Donoghue.

"He does stay further.

"Even in Navan, he travelled into it very well and then idled a bit when he hit the front. Today was throw the blinkers on him and see what happens.

"He's a very honest horse - he doesn't actually need them (blinkers), but it just keeps him concentrating that bit longer.

"He's in on Sunday in Leopardstown in a 130 chase - if he is alright and the ground is slow enough, he will go. That's kind of the key to him, slower ground. He just got away with that there today.

"I was confident kind of in his ability over fences that he would go hard and burn them off and that's what he did."

C. Owens, rider of Nathaniel's Dream (GB), trained by A.J.Martin, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount didn't handle the ground.

(MG & EM)